Self-locking price tag molding



May 16, 1950 J. R. SLAVSKY EIAL SELF-LOCKING PRICE TAG MOLDING Filed June 10, 1948 .w m T v, v NAA E ELL N W? R 0 MN A d M price tags.

Patented May 16, 1950 SELF-LOCKING PRICE TAG MOLDING John R. Slavsky and Robert J. Slavsky, Detroit,

Mich., assignors to Shaw & Slavsky, Inc., -De- .troit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,164

1 Claim.

The present invention pertains to a novel self- ;locking price'tag molding of the character applied to store shelves.

. The price tag molding has come into very wide use in grocery stores and markets both large and smalL The molding is in the nature of a channel strip in which the price tags are inserted. The tags are easily slidable along the molding strip, and the displacement of tags by mischievous persons has become the cause of considerable confusion and annoyance and disputes with customers concerning prices. So

serious is this problem that several expensive and complicated devices have been proposed and put into use in order to solve it. The principal solution heretofore proposed involves a transparent strip inserted in the molding over the Even the simplest expedient of this character requires a double-grooved and more expensive molding and the expenditure of addi-. tional time in inserting the strip and removing it when the tags are to be changed. Other proposals present a transparent strip of such thick- ;ness that it may be hinged to the molding, in conjunction with a somewhat concealed latching 'device to defeat the attempts by mischievous persons to lift the strip.

The principal object of this invention is to simplify the entire problem by dispensing with the transparent covering strip and providing a molding that locks the tag against accidental or deliberate sliding. Another object is to provide a tool which cooperates with a special formation in the molding for readily removing the tags. 7

1 In the accomplishment of these objects, the

molding is of general channel configuration as heretofore and has a concave face at the bottom of the channel. As a matter of practice the back or bottom of the channel is of concave-convexcross section. The height of the price tag is such that it will fit non-slidably in the channel. The tag is first inserted in the channel in a bulging or outwardly convex form and is then pushed inward into surface engagement with the concave back or bottom of the channel. The fit of the tag is so tight against the bottom and the side edges of the channel that it cannot be slid by hand.

For removal of the tag, the bottom of the channel is formed with a longitudinal central groove to receive a removing tool. The latter is a flat member that tapers to a point at one end at least and preferably at both ends. The pointed end or ends are bevelled on both surfaces 2 for insertion in the groove and prying beneath the price tag. As the tool in an inclined post.- tion is slid under the tag, the edges of the tool or locked position of the tag;

contact with the bottom of the channel and eventually remove it entirely from the channel. All this takes place in a simple and continuous motion of the tool.

The invention is "fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing th molding mounted on a shelf and illustrating the use of the tool in removing a tag;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the molding showing the initial position of the inserted tag; L Figure 3 is a similar section showing the final Figure 4 is a plan view of the tool, and Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4. i

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the molding is shown as including a strip 1 of generally concave-convex cross section having a concave face 2 which is directed outwardly when the molding is applied to the edge of the shelf. The molding is given a somewhat channel formation by the provision of integral side walls or beads 3 and 4 along the edges thereof. The beads form grooves 5 with the face 2 for retaining the price tags in the manner presently to be described. The upper bead 3 is preferably extended rearwardly to form ashoulder 6 which rests upon the shelf 1, as shown in Figure 1. The back surface of the strip I immediately below the shoulder 6 is preferably plane at 8 and perpendicular to the lower surface of the shoulder 6, for about half the width of the strip I, for bearing against the vertical forward edge of the shelf 1.

The price tags 9 are rectangular and made of Celluloid or a similar plastic material. The height of each tag is fully equal to the arcuate width of the surface 2 from the apex of one groove 5 to the apex of the other. In fact these apices are rather sharp, internal angles being not in excess of degrees, for a purpose that will presently be described.

For insertion in the grooves, the tag is first 'bent outwardly and inserted in this manner so that its curvature is opposite to that of the face 2, as shown in Figure 2. It is then pushed inward into engagement with the face 2, as shown cannot be slid by hand in the molding strip away from the face 2 with the fingernails. only needed accessory: is the tool ll. Since-this 3 in Figure 3. Because of the relative height of the tag; as already set forth, it now fits snugly in the two grooves. Also, the height of the tag and its inherent stiiTness are such as to cause a Wedging of its upper and lower edges into the V apices of the grooves. In this condition the tag removed from it,

, To enable removal of the tag, the face 2 is formed with a longitudinal and central groove Iii adapted to receive a prying tool. The latter is made preferably of fiat flexible stock H, such as a, plastic material and is pointed atone or is a flat member, it is readily and cheaply stamped out of the stock, and the bevelling of the points is a simple and inexpensive mechanical operation. The molding is no more costly than the simplest design'of molding of similar fabrication', which is preferably extrusion, and the cost of the tool is negligible inasmuch as only two .or three tQOIsare needed for astcrehaving thousands of feet of molding.

- Although a speciflcembodimentof the invention has been illustrated and described, it will 7 be understood that various alterations in the de-' tails of construction may be made without deboth' ends as at l2. The edges of the tool; there- 7 fore converge, at 13 toward the point or pointsj-- Each point is bevelled at [4, preferably on both surfaces, as shown more clearly in Figure a A point of the tool is forced into the groove l0 beneath the lateral edge of the tag. In this operation either surface of the tool may be dis- 1 posed outward beeauseof the double bevelled point; Iii other words the user need'not selectively positionthe tool with respect to its surjfaces. As the tool is forced beneath the tag the edges ,iii that diverge from the point have a spreading -action-on-;the-tag in lifting it out of eontaet'withthe faceZJ Eventually the tag is-returned to the bulged condition shown-in Figure 2, and the continued; motion of the tool either pries or lifts thetagout of the channel. Al-

thoughthe action-of the tool has been analyzed into'i-ts several functions themotion-of the'tool V issimple and continuous, consisting merely of one quick sweep by, the hand after the point been initially inserted beneath the tag.

' It is -now evident that this device eliminates the necessity of costly, complicated and timehas parting; from thescope of the invention as indi- V cated; by the, appended claim.

What we claim iszr V a A selfsleek ingj price tag molding comprising a strip. havinga uniform concave arcuate face,

heads at the longitudinal edges of said strip'and forming grooves with said face, in combination "with a tag having a height fullyequal to: the arcuate transverse dimension of said face between a the apices of said grooves, said ta'gqconsisting oi manually flexible-sheet material havingthe stifiness of Celluloid, whereby to maintain an outwardly bowed condition when inserted in" said grooves and requiring pushing to be brought in-to surface engagement with said-face; and wherein the angle between the'wall's of each groove does,

:not exceed 45 degrees. r

- JOHN "R." smvsnn onn er J.VV.S L AVSKYI I 7 REFERENCES, CITED 7 The following references are of record the f ie of this patent:

consuming protective coverings to'prevent accidental or deliberate displacement of the tags. It

has been found by numerous tests under actual working conditions that the installation is absolutely tamper-proof. A properly dimensioned tag-inserted as described, cannot belslid in-the molding with the bare fingers'and cannot be lifted The ' Number N-ai-ne' Date 1,291,370 7 Heaven; Jan. 14,1919 1,736,123. McIntyre 'Nov. 19, ,1925 7 1,755,758 Zimmerman Apr. 22, 19.30 1,929,468 Bales et: a1. 10ct. 15), 1933 2,352,196 Hornung I June 20,1944

UNITED 1STATEPATENT r 

